Category: Uncategorized
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What Is a CDFI and Why Should Corporate Treasurers Care?
What is a CDFI? Corporate treasurers are tasked with safeguarding liquidity, preserving capital, and managing risk in a rapidly shifting financial landscape. While large national institutions remain the default for many, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) offer an alternative that combines federally insured safety with diversification benefits. Certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury,…
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The Infrastructure of Opportunity: 5 Ways Community Financial Institutions Build Thriving Communities
A single mother in rural Mississippi can’t get to her new job because there’s no reliable transportation. A corner store owner in Detroit wants to accept credit cards and offer fresh produce but can’t afford the equipment upgrades and refrigeration systems. A community health center in Appalachia can’t serve patients effectively because their building needs…
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Inside CNote’s Flagship Fund Fixed Income Opportunity.
At CNote, we believe your money should work toward more than just financial returns—it should help build stronger communities. That’s the idea behind our fixed income products, which allow clients to earn returns while supporting opportunities like small business growth, affordable housing, and disaster recovery. The Flagship Fund, with a history of no losses, is…
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Building Dreams, One Member at a Time: How Peoples Advantage Federal Credit Union is Transforming Communities
In Petersburg, Virginia, homeownership dreams feel within reach—even for those who’ve been told “no” countless times before. At Peoples Advantage Federal Credit Union (PAFCU), being a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) means more than just offering loans. It means creating pathways to prosperity for underserved communities through innovative programs that traditional banks simply won’t provide.…
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How Companies Can Support Affordable Housing Through Cash Management
When companies consider cash management, their primary focus is typically on safety, liquidity, and yield. But cash can do more than sit in a low-yield account or a money market fund. By placing deposits with community-focused banks and credit unions, companies can keep their money safe while also supporting critical needs like affordable housing. It’s…
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Building More Than a Platform: How CNote Advances the Entire Community Finance Ecosystem
By Tamra Thetford, VP of Impact Evaluation When CNote was founded, our founders could have chosen the easier path by building a simple platform that connects investors with community development financial institutions (CDFIs). Instead, they recognized that truly addressing systematic challenges in how capital flows to underserved communities required something more ambitious: building solutions that…
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How Do Companies Place Cash with CDFI Banks and Credit Unions?
When most companies think about where to keep their cash, the usual suspects come to mind: large national banks or short-term money market funds. But there’s another option that more organizations are beginning to explore: placing deposits with Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) banks and credit unions. These mission-driven institutions don’t just safeguard deposits. They…
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Preserving Community: How Self-Help and LA Más Kept Families in Their Homes
America is losing affordable housing at an alarming rate. Every day, naturally occurring affordable housing—existing properties with below-market rents—disappears as gentrification drives up property values and displaces long-time residents. In Northeast Los Angeles, this crisis is playing out in real time, with rising rents pushing out families who built their lives in communities they can…
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Cutting Through Treasury Complexity in Corporate Cash Management
At first glance, corporate cash management might seem straightforward. The goal is clear: preserve capital, maintain liquidity, and make sure money is working for the business. But for many treasurers, the day-to-day reality looks very different. Managing cash often means juggling dozens of accounts, navigating multiple banking portals, and trying to piece together a real…
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How Community Banks Help Communities Bounce Back After Disasters
Disasters leave more than physical damage in their wake. Families are displaced, small businesses close their doors, and entire communities are left wondering how they will rebuild. Federal aid often arrives quickly, but it can only go so far. Once the initial response ends, there is often a gap between short-term relief and long-term recovery.…